Holmstrom not a big fan of needles

TRAVERSE CITY — Despite standing in front of the net as pucks come whizzing at him at up to 100 miles per hour, Tomas Holmstrom can’t stand having his blood taken.

“The toughest thing today was drawing the blood,” Holmstrom said. “It was the toughest for me. I can’t speak for the other guys. I hate needles.”

“(Homer’s) one of the few guys that laid down,” Nicklas Lidstrom said. “He’s a little sensitive, but yet he can stand in front of the net and face slap shots coming at him at 100 miles per hour. Go figure that one out. He’s afraid of needles, but not afraid of pucks.”

“I stand up,” Henrik Zetterberg said. “Homer has some issues. He’s not that tough off the ice. He’s a little softy. It’s going to be nice to use this softy comment against him.”